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US4074264A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Adaptive threshold clutter processor

Assignee: Raytheon Co
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Filing: 1976-01-07
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Granted: 1978-02-14
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Expires: 1996-01-07
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Abstract

Abstract A time sampling adaptive clutter processor that samples on a scan to scan basis rather than on an area basis and in response to signals received from the object being interrogated develops a mean level value and a standard deviation value. The mean value and the standard deviation value may be provided by recursive type filters operating with scan to scan memories. The mean level value is then combined with the standard deviation value to provide a threshold that provides improved clutter detection especially with a condition in which a clutter variation from scan to scan is less than the clutter variation between areas in any one scan. The system may also include a valid target control to eliminate the detrimental effects on the threshold that may be caused by targets being tracked.

Inventors

  • 👤 Richard D. Wilmot

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 22:29
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S7/00; G01S7/02; G01S7/28; G01S7/2806; G01S7/285; G01S7/292; G01S7/2923

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 92 words
A target detector system responsive to a source of signals over a plurality of range intervals of a plurality of range sweeps comprising: mean level processor means coupled to said source of signals for providing mean values derived from time samples of scan to scan signals, standard deviation processor means coupled to said source of signals for providing standard deviation values derived from time samples of scan to scan signals; and combining means coupled to said mean level processor means and said standard deviation processor means for providing a target detection threshold.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 92 words
A target detector system responsive to a source of signals over a plurality of range intervals of a plurality of range sweeps comprising: mean level processor means coupled to said source of signals for providing mean values derived from time samples of scan to scan signals, standard deviation processor means coupled to said source of signals for providing standard deviation values derived from time samples of scan to scan signals; and combining means coupled to said mean level processor means and said standard deviation processor means for providing a target detection threshold.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 69 words
The combination of claim 1 in which said mean level processor means and said standard deviation processor means develop said respective mean values and standard deviation values from quantum areas each of a selected number of range bins and range sweeps and further including valid target control means responsive to said source of signals for inhibiting the signals from said source during the presence of a target return signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 26 words
The combination of claim 2 in which said mean level processor means includes a recursive filter and said standard deviation processor means includes a recursive filter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 71 words
The combination of claim 3 in which the recursive filter in said standard deviation processor means provides a mean square signal, said standard deviation processor means further including squaring means coupled to the recursive filter of said mean level processor means for providing a square of the mean signal, and combining means responsive to said means square signal and said square of the mean signal for developing said standard deviation signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 38 words
The combination of claim 1 in which said source of signals includes an azimuth integrator and means for sampling a selected signal value for application to said mean level processor means and to said standard deviation processor means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 105 words
A signal threshold generating system comprising: a source of video signals each representative of energy received from a range bin interval and a selected number of azimuth intervals, a first recursive filter coupled to said source for providing a mean value, first squaring means coupled to said source, a second recursive filter coupled to said squaring means, second squaring means coupled to said first recursive filter, combining means coupled to said second squaring means and to said second recursive filter for providing a standard deviation value; and summing means coupled to said first recursive filter and to said combining means for providing a threshold signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 105 words
A signal threshold generating system comprising: a source of video signals each representative of energy received from a range bin interval and a selected number of azimuth intervals, a first recursive filter coupled to said source for providing a mean value, first squaring means coupled to said source, a second recursive filter coupled to said squaring means, second squaring means coupled to said first recursive filter, combining means coupled to said second squaring means and to said second recursive filter for providing a standard deviation value; and summing means coupled to said first recursive filter and to said combining means for providing a threshold signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 69 words
The combination of claim 6 in which said recursive filters each including summing means and a memory with said summing means coupled to said source of video signals and said summing means coupled to said memory for combining the time sampled video signals to accumulate smooth, time averaged values for quantum areas in space, each quantum area being representative of an area of a selected number of azimuth intervals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 55 words
The combination of claim 7 in which recirculation means is included in each recursive filter and further including valid target means for detecting the presence of a target and coupled to said recirculating means for recirculating the accumulated values without being combined with the video signals from said source during the presence of a target.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 29 words
The combination of claim 8 including azimuth integrator means and maximum signal selection means respectively coupled between said source and said first recursive filter and said first squaring means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 100 words
A target detecting system for generating a threshold signal in response to a source of video signals derived from a plurality of azimuth sweeps over a plurality of range bins comprising: first means including a mean level processor for providing a mean value and at least one higher order moment value from time samples, summing means coupled to said first means for receiving said mean value and at least one higher order moment value to provide a threshold value; and comparator means coupled to said source of video signals and to said summing means for developing a detected target signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 100 words
A target detecting system for generating a threshold signal in response to a source of video signals derived from a plurality of azimuth sweeps over a plurality of range bins comprising: first means including a mean level processor for providing a mean value and at least one higher order moment value from time samples, summing means coupled to said first means for receiving said mean value and at least one higher order moment value to provide a threshold value; and comparator means coupled to said source of video signals and to said summing means for developing a detected target signal.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3531802A Cited
US3946382A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1981-02-13 1981-08-15 1982-02-14 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1985-02-13 1985-08-15 1986-02-14 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1989-02-13 1989-08-15 1990-02-14 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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